Ancient Elis & Chlemoutsi Castle Shore Tour: Private, Flexible

Skip the usual Olympia crowds and see the region that organized the Games

A private shore tour from Katakolo visiting Ancient Elis, the archaeological site and museum tied to the Olympic Games organization, plus the medieval Chlemoutsi Castle overlooking the Ionian Sea. The itinerary adjusts to your cruise ship's schedule, and includes private transportation, bottled water and a scenic drive through olive groves and villages of western Peloponnese. Site entry tickets are separate. A licensed archaeology guide is available on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ancient Elis and Chlemoutsi Castle

• Meet driver at Katakolo port or hotel
• Drive to Holy Mary of Skafidia monastery
• Visit Holy Mary of Skafidia monastery
• Visit Ancient Elis Archaeological Site and Museum
• Explore ancient Theater of Ilis
• Drive through villages to Chlemoutsi Castle
• Visit Chlemoutsi Castle
• Relax at nearby coffee house with sea view
• Return to Katakolo

The experience

Your driver meets you at the Katakolo cruise port or your hotel with a sign bearing your name, then drives you inland through countryside dotted with olive groves and small villages toward Ancient Elis. The route itself is part of the tour. You see the landscape of western Peloponnese rather than the highway most shore excursions take. Along the way, the driver can stop at Holy Mary of Skafidia, a 1,200-year-old monastery enclosed by medieval fortress walls, the only one of its kind in Greece, holding religious artifacts, old icons, and reliquaries.

At Ancient Elis (Ilida), you walk the open-air archaeological site and explore the museum, which holds statues, pottery, mosaics and golden jewelry dating from the early Hellenic period through the Roman era: artifacts spanning 2,000 years. The museum sits in a spacious square overlooking both the excavation and the plain of Elis stretching toward Chlemoutsi Castle. Nearby stands the ancient Theater of Ilis, built over 2,400 years ago beside the river Pinios, originally a sanctuary to Apollo before residents transformed it into one of Greece's oldest theaters. The quiet setting and the view across the plain give the site a different feel than the crowded main Olympic site.

Your driver then takes you up to Chlemoutsi Castle, the medieval stronghold originally called Château Clermont that once guarded the capital Andravida and the harbor of Glarentza. From the castle you see across the plain of Elis and out to the Ionian Sea. Afterward, you can stop at a coffee house perched above the sea with views toward the island of Zakinthos, where you can rest before the return drive to the port. The entire excursion runs about five hours and is timed so you're back before your ship departs.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with your own driver.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• flexible departure time coordinated with your cruise ship's arrival and departure.
• scenic drive through olive groves and villages of western Peloponnese.
• stop at the 1,200-year-old Holy Mary of Skafidia monastery.
• access to the Ancient Elis archaeological site and museum (entry tickets purchased separately).
• visit to the ancient Theater of Ilis.
• Chlemoutsi Castle visit.
• optional coffee stop overlooking the Ionian Sea.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private trip to ancient Ilis, Chlemoutsi Castle and a beach, departing from Katakolo portNo fixed timePickup is included

Private transfer in a VIP carNo fixed timeVIP vehicle, includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 5h, runs every day with no fixed time, from € 130 per person, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by THEOCAR Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your ship docks at Katakolo and you want to avoid the crowded main Olympia route. You get the region's history without the tour-bus traffic, and the flexible timing means you won't rush back to the port. A licensed archaeology guide is worth requesting if you want detailed context about the Olympic Games administration and the artifacts in the museum.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Ancient Elis and why does it matter for the Olympic Games?

Ancient Elis (Ilida) was the city responsible for organizing and holding the Olympic Games in antiquity. The archaeological site and museum hold artifacts from the early Hellenic period through the Roman era, including statues, pottery, mosaics and jewelry that show how the region functioned as the administrative center of the Games.

Can I visit Chlemoutsi Castle on any day of the week?

Chlemoutsi Castle is closed on Tuesdays, so plan your shore excursion for another day if the castle is part of your itinerary.

How does the itinerary change based on my cruise ship's schedule?

Your departure time is flexible and adjusted to when your ship arrives at Katakolo. The driver meets you at the port or your hotel, and the route can be shortened or extended depending on how much time you have before your ship departs. You might add a coastal stop in the Kyllini area or time by the sea if your schedule allows.

Do I need to buy tickets for the museum and archaeological site separately?

Yes, entry tickets for the Archaeological Museum and Ancient Elis site are not included in the tour price. Children under 25 enter free. A licensed archaeology guide is available on request if you want deeper context at each stop.

What's included in the private transportation?

The tour includes private air-conditioned vehicle transportation, bottled water, and WiFi on board. All fees and taxes are covered. You pay only for site entry tickets, any meals or drinks you order, and the optional archaeology guide if you request one.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility needs?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces at the sites are accessible, transportation is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram, stroller, or specialized infant seat.